Progress Report Spring 2017 - Gardens

We needed to strengthen a section of the Walled Kitchen Garden wall adjacent to the underground boiler room along the east side. Our ground-works contractor has completed the first part of this work so the wall is now much more secure.

The underpinning of the east wallPhoto: Peter Gamble

Also in the Walled Kitchen Garden, volunteer, Andy Harknett, has rebuilt the storage shed. We are very grateful indeed to him for this work. We are also grateful to Mr Kirkland of Hadham Engineering for financing the light steel frame

The rebuilt storage shedPhoto: Peter Gamble

It was important to start the reconstruction of the grand path that runs along the northern edge of the gardens adjacent to the ha ha retaining wall. Substantial work has taken place. To ascertain the degree to which the retaining wall was leaning out, we cleared the self-sown vegetation that had grown up against it from the parkland. This revealed the fact that much of the wall would have to be rebuilt in due course. Any demolition and rebuilding of the retaining wall would cause the path to collapse along its northern edge – so we have taken the precaution of supporting the edge by installing a pre-cast concrete revetment that will not be seen above ground.

On the upper terraces, west of the mansion, we have reconstructed a length of stone balustrade. This work used only the original stone components from Copped Hall. Some of these were found scattered around the terraces but most were recovered from Bullwood Hall where they were taken by Lord Chelmer around 1950. We have sufficient stonework to reconstruct at least the next length of balustrade – see Wish List

Towards the end of last year, we were very fortunate to receive a grant of £15,000 from The Grange Farm Trust to continue the reconstruction of the Orchard House. We are very grateful for this support. We have also received some donations towards this work from private individuals. Work has re-started now the weather is warmer.

Alan Cox

The leaning haha retaining wallPhoto: Peter Gamble

The most exciting thing this winter has been to see substantial progress in furthering our ambition to have pram and wheelchair access to the Walled Garden.

The badly destroyed northern path, the twelve feet wide Promenade overlooking parkland to the north, is being levelled up and is beginning to be resurfaced. This has involved building up the collapsed side, to the extent of nearly 18 inches, and then filling up with hardcore and other materials. These loads are extremely heavy and we have had to work with the weather conditions to protect the lawns from damage.

We hope that by our first Open Day in May there will be a substantial width of accessible route to the Walled Kitchen Garden. The benefit of this route is that it does not involve steps.

Elsewhere, there has been a lot of reshaping to the large Yews in the northern part of the garden. The Lime Walk has undergone some more cutting and shaping and the short Box hedge between the Limes is growing on well. Work will continue over more years yet.

On the Lower Great Lawn an area of diseased Victorian Spotted Laurel has been cleared revealing an attractive vista down the lawn and through Yew arches into the Rock Garden.

The remaining fallen timber from earlier tree surgery has now been removed from most parts of the gardens, better revealing the shape of these areas.

The new Rose Garden has been receiving attention. The low Box hedges in the long central Knot Garden here are growing on well and will, this year, begin to be shaped into plaited hedges. The bank alongside the Rose Garden has been de-stoned and the worst of the perennial weeds removed. This bank will eventually be planted with a selection of less rampant wild flowers.

I am becoming impatient to see if the small Bluebell wood we planted alongside My Lady’s Walk has extended by seeding and whether we have even more flowers this year. We will, in any case, be planting more bulbs.

Unfortunately, my appeal in the last Newsletter has not brought forth any volunteer gardeners….but I am ever hopeful!